Why don’t we feel vertigo in a hot air balloon?

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El secreto está en el movimiento suave y la percepción del cerebro

When we ride in a hot air balloon, our brain does not interpret height the same way it does in situations like standing on a cliff or looking down from a tall building. This is mainly because the balloon moves extremely smoothly and steadily, without sudden vibrations or accelerations

Vertigo typically occurs when there is a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the vestibular system (the inner ear balance system) senses. In a balloon, everything moves at the same pace, and there are no rapid motion cues, so the brain does not register immediate danger. Additionally, the basket creates a sense of security, and the distance to the ground is perceived more abstractly, like viewing a distant landscape. All of this makes the experience calm and unlikely to trigger vertigo.

viaje en globo vertigo
Why don’t we feel vertigo in a hot air balloon? 2

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Picture of Joan Viñas

Joan Viñas

Pilot with international projection and experience in tourist flights, exhibitions and expeditions in complex environments.

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